Pubdate: Thu, 02 Oct 2008
Source: Georgia Straight, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2008 The Georgia Straight
Contact:  http://www.straight.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1084
Author: Carlito Pablo
By Carlito Pablo
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/Insite (Insite)

LADNER AND ROBERTSON DIFFER ON WARDS AND ON ADDING INJECTION SITES

Both Peter Ladner of the Non-Partisan Association and Gregor 
Robertson of Vision Vancouver support Insite, Vancouver's 
supervised-injection site.

But if Robertson wins the November 15 mayoral election, he would like 
to see more supervised-injection sites in the city. According to him, 
these may not exactly the same as the facility on Hastings Street and 
could be tailored to specific demands in particular neighbourhoods.

"We need to be saving lives wherever we can," Robertson said in the 
first public mayoral debate held Wednesday evening (October 1) at the 
city's central library.

And aside from additional injection sites, Robertson said that there 
should be more programs for treatment as well as detox centres.

For his part, Ladner said that he doesn't see how more 
supervised-injection sites will work. According to him, the emphasis 
should be on treatment.

Ladner also noted that most intravenous-drug users don't access 
Insite, pointing out that only 10 percent of "fixes" by addicts are 
done inside the facility.

The matter of supervised-injection sites was one of two major issues 
in which the two candidates differed during the debate.

On the matter of electoral reform, Robertson said that he originally 
supported having a ward system in the city. However, Robertson said 
his view has slightly shifted to having a mixed ward and at-large 
systems of electing civic officials.

Robertson said that he intends to have this issue studied under a 
Vision administration, and put a recommendation through a referendum 
in the 2011 municipal election.

For his part, Ladner said that he is happy with the current at-large 
system of electing civic officials.

Both candidates declared that solving homelessness is their top priority.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom